Fun+Facts

=Fun Facts =



**MYTH: The number of grizzly bears is unknown and probably declining in B.C.**

FACT: Recent DNA inventories reconfirmed that grizzly bears are neither threatened nor endangered in British Columbia. BC's population of grizzly bears at a minimum of 13 thousand is currently stable overall and at or near carrying capacity in the province's remaining most productive ecosystems. 92% of BC's grizzly bear habitat is still occupied.

**MYTH: Hunting is the greatest threat to grizzly bear populations.**

FACT: Matt Austin, Government Wildlife Biologist and Provincial Carnivore Specialist, recently said, "the majority of grizzly bear populations in BC are healthy and are not threatened by recreational hunting as it is currently managed." The most recent review by the BC Grizzly Bear Scientific Advisory Committee concluded that grizzly bear hunting as currently practiced is sustainable and that a moratorium on grizzly bear hunting is not necessary.

**MYTH: A moratorium is needed to conduct a population census.**

FACT: Hunting seasons do not interfere in any way with grizzly bear inventories including the new DNA hair analysis. The real reason that some groups propose a moratorium is that they want to stop grizzly bear hunting regardless of how many bears there are. If they succeed in closing the bear hunt, their intention is to stop other types of hunting (and fishing) and eventually any form of animal use.

**MYTH: The public opposes grizzly bear hunting.**

FACT: Independent polling over a period of years shows that the level of support for grizzly bear hunting is 70% in the interior of the province where people live in close proximity with bears. Even in the heavily urbanized Lower Mainland, 50% of the people believe the hunting of grizzly bears should continue compared to just 44% who think it should not. Once respondents understand that population growth rates of grizzly bears can be 8% per year after hunting, support for hunting increases to 60%.

[|Click here] for Ten Reasons Why Hunting is an Integral Part of the Conservation of Grizzly Bears

**MYTH: Grizzly bears have the lowest reproductive rate and therefore should not be hunted.**

FACT: While animal rightists expound grizzly bears' low reproductive rate, they fail to mention that sows are good mothers and that survival rates for cubs are higher than for most other large mammals. Studies in the Flathead in BC and in Coastal and Interior Alaska have shown that grizzly bear populations are capable of increasing at an annual rate of 6% to 8% or higher. Population growth depends on both the birth and death rate.

**MYTH: Wildlife viewing can replace hunting for grizzly bear management.**

FACT: Bear viewing can cause stress for grizzly bears. In Alaska, biologist Dr. Barry Gilbert found that bear viewing caused a 92% decline in the hours spent at feeding sites by females with cubs. Some tourism operators feel that bear viewing can replace hunting, but they ignore the problem of habituation of bears to humans. Dr. Valerius Geist, Professor Emeritus at University of Calgary has warned that bear viewing can lead to dangerous situations and to the near certain destruction of the animals the tourists were watching.

**MYTH: Grizzly bears are naturally docile and can be approached safely if people are careful.**

FACT: In National and Provincial Parks such as Glacier, Kootenay, Yoho, and Liard Hotsprings, trails are routinely closed to protect people from bears. Each year in the province, several people are attacked and injured or killed in encounters with both black and grizzly bears. These numbers have been increasing as both the number of people and bears steadily increase. Forestry workers, biologists, and recreationalists must be very careful in bear country as they face increasing risks from bears that are more habituated to humans.

**MYTH: First Nation's peoples revered grizzly bears and did not hunt them.**

FACT: Ant-hunters sometimes speak for First Nations by claiming they have no interest in hunting grizzly bears. The ritual taking of grizzly bears by First Nations has always been of special significance. The hide, skull, teeth and claws are prominently featured in art, dance and ceremony. Grizzly bear meat was seldom eaten.

**MYTH: Environmentalists will pay for grizzly bear management.**

FACT: Anti-hunters, purporting to look after the grizzly bear, have put zero dollars into grizzly bear research and management. At present the government does not have any method of collecting wildlife user fees other than from hunters and fishermen. Each year the government collects $13-14 million from hunting and fishing licenses. An additional $5.3 million is currently collected as license surcharges for the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund. Over the past 20 years, $52 million has been disbursed by the Habitat Conservation Trust Fund for fish and wildlife research and management.

**MYTH: Anti-hunters have the grizzly bear's interests at heart.**

FACT: Many anti-hunters have a poor understanding of the ecology of grizzly bears and often use grizzly bears as an icon to further their own fund-raising efforts. A recent public opinion poll revealed that government biologists (76%) are the most believed for grizzly bear numbers while anti- hunting groups are the least believed by the public (7%).

Constellation

References:

"Ten Great Myths about Grizzly Bears." __Bears in British Columbia__. 2008. Guide Outfitters Association of British Columbia. 30 July, 2008. .